Three baby spider monkeys confiscated at the United States-Mexico border are now safely with the wildlife care specialists at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the Calexico West Port of Entry foiled the smuggling attempt and reported the monkeys to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
A subspecies of Geoffroy’s spider monkey (designated Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species), the trio was estimated to be approximately two months old at the time of their rescue. They were found malnourished and in poor condition.
The zoo says that the monkeys have been under the close watch of the wildlife care specialists at the Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park since their arrival. They have received all the necessary care and are now flourishing under the expert care of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
They have been consistently eating well, gaining weight and exhibiting normal behavior and movement. While being treated, the monkeys have had access to the outdoors and opportunities for socialization.
The trio has now been moved from the Veterinary Medical Center to the Animal Care Center at the Safari Park.
Increasing public awareness
To increase public awareness and advocacy about the harmful, illegal wildlife trade, a new habitat has been developed where the public will have an opportunity to see these monkeys in the coming weeks.
Periodically, other wildlife that has been confiscated as part of the illicit wildlife trade may also be temporarily cared for here while awaiting permanent rehoming. The habitat features educational information about the Southern California Wildlife Confiscation Network (SCWCN).
Providing immediate medical care
SCWCN is a coalition of area zoos, aquariums and other animal-care facilities that jump in to provide immediate medical care and housing for wildlife trafficked through U.S. ports of entry.
“This story illuminates the critically important role of accredited zoos and aquariums in providing world class care for wildlife and responding in a moment’s notice,” said Lisa Peterson, executive director, San Diego Zoo Safari Park. “In these difficult moments, we see it as our responsibility to be ready and provide the best care possible, assess their individual needs, give them opportunities to experience environments that reflect their native habitats, and when appropriate, the complex social dynamics critical to their well-being.”
“We wish these monkeys were not trafficked in the first place, but to have been found where they were and to have received the care they did is the best possible outcome,” said Hendrik Nollens, vice president of wildlife health, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “Too often the outcome for smuggled wildlife is poor.”
Wildlife trafficking on the rise
Criminal wildlife trafficking is on the rise, and Southern California is considered an epicenter for the illicit trade, which is tied to international crime and drug networks.
According to the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service seized nearly 50,000 illegally smuggled wildlife between 2015 and 2019. Accredited zoos and aquariums are frequently called to provide critical care assistance for the seized wildlife.
As a founding member SCWCN, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance plays a pivotal role on the front lines of emergency response to wildlife smuggling. Incidents like this one demonstrate San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s ongoing commitment to addressing the critical issues of wildlife trafficking, exploitation and mistreatment.
Information courtesy of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
